Residents’ health to be surveyed after 1994 sarin attack

NAGANO, Japan, Nov. 22 (Kyodo) — The city of Matsumoto in Nagano Prefecture has decided to conduct a health survey on about 2,000 residents ahead of the 10th anniversary in June next year of the sarin gas attack in the city by the AUM Shinrikyo cult, city officials said Saturday.

The municipal government will distribute questionnaires by the end of this month to roughly 2,000 residents and rescue workers who were in the vicinity of the attack on June 27, 1994 to investigate remaining aftereffects, the officials said.

AUM members released the sarin gas in a parking lot near the residence of judges of the Nagano District Court’s Matsumoto branch, killing seven and injuring 144.

The results of the health survey will be released by the end of next March.

It is the 11th health survey since the attack and the first to be conducted on such a large scale in almost seven years, according to the city.

A group of physicians including eye doctors and psychiatrists will check the replies to the questionnaires for symptoms such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

A checkup will be available for interested residents, the officials said.